The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-16
Reply Of Senator Huston to the Political Ii
rade of the Man Who Pretends To
BE Licutenaat-Goyernor
Passage of the Reynolds Bill Providing
for High Tax and Local Control.
Several Democrats Vote for II and Give En-
phatic Expression of Their Views, Which
the Republicans Greet with Applause.
A STARTLING REPORT.


What Democrats Think OF Their Manage
inent of the Southern Prison.
The Senate committee prisons yesterday, |
submitted a remarkable report of its recent in |
vestigation Of affairs at the Jacksonville peni
Tertiary. Every line Of it confirms the charges |
made by the Republicans for years past that the |
prison center of official negligence and
questionable practices without a parallel. 1t
needs coloring to give its conclusions en- |
phasis for every word has its place in condemn
ing Democratic mismanagement. No depart
ment Of the prison escaped censure except the
hospital. and if the motive of the Democratic
party responsible for this disgraceful condition
Is to seek mercy in pleas Of guilty. the Senate
committee has effectually prepared the record
II the committee has modified or disregarded
facts as being too strong for Democratic consid-
GRAFTON, tina. Of the House, which left for the
prison last night, can fill in those wanting, and
give to the people of Indiana picture of NAL
administration unequaled for ineficency. to say
the least. During its reading Warden Howard
stood in the lobby attentive listener.
The report begins with reference to prison
food, which the committee found in sufficient
quantities, good and properly cooked. The hos
and the needs of patients are properly attended
to, while the treatment of prisoners is not more
severe than proper discipline requires. But this
closed favorable mention, and the committee
then passed to the facts upon which
censure Is based by reporting: I'VE regret
to say that there is little of anything
else in the condition management of said
prison which merits our approval, but very
much that demands our disapproval, and some
things which deserve the condemnation of every
good citizen" One of the first items is that the
''prison is built upon low, marshy ground,
which is not properly drained. The yards are
muddy, with water standing in many places
where no means are provided for promptly cary.
ing the surface water away Inside the prison
the committee found that many cells ars damp
and dirty, the occupants of which, with very
few exceptions, have no strong inclination to
cleanliness" In the two cid cell-houses each
cell is supplied with straw tick, two blankets,
but has no pillows sheets. The bed clothing
as we'll as the cells is very filthy. Each cell in
Tho new house has a pillow and two Sheets to-
gether with the blankets, but this clothing and
the cells, too, .'are inexcusably filthy Accord
ing to the committee, there is no justification
or excuse for this condition Many prisoners
are now idle, and have been so for several weeks,
on account Of the expiration OF some of the con-
tracts and the waiting for the preparation of
machinery and buildings by the new contractors.
These idle prisoners could and ought to have
been employed in washing the ticks, sheets, pill
low-cases and blankets. and cleaning and white
washing the cells"
Again, the committee remarks that there is
not sufficient heat in the new dollhouse to pro
tect the prisoners from cold during the severest
winter weather, and recommend that at least
two moro heaters be placed in said dollhouse.
While the general health of the prisoners is now
apparently good, there is great anger that 1t
will not continue SO unless speedy change is
made Ill the general cleanliness Of the prison
yard, the cells the bedding and the prisoners
themselves The prison-yard is surrounded on
three sides by old and decay ed wooden walls.
These walls are stayed on two sides with braces
to keep 1t from falling, and If the prison is to
remain in its present location new walls will be
necessary for the safe-keeping of prisoners
The library is N a bad condition with no cat
Alogne of its books and system Of manage
ment. The books are badly cared for and poor
ly selected, and the moral instructor has but lit
tie knowledge of them. When he was asked for
books he did not know where to find them, nor
did the convict in charge of the library know
any more about his duties The only moral in
struction given to the prisoners is at the chapel
exercises, one hour each Sunday. No Sunday
school is held, and the prisoners not instruct
ed in the arts of reading, writing arithmetic and
geography, required by law. No effort what
ever is made to improve their mental condition.
The committee, in proof of this, filed state
mont of one Of the most intelligent of the con-
victs, corroborated by the chaplain of the prison
1t is but a sample of the omplaints made gener-
hlly by the prisoners, who al
lowed but one book every two weeks
Under the rules they could have from 6 to
o'clock each evening to devote to reading, but
the supply of candles will not furnish light to
exceed two-thrds of the time. Each prisoner
ba cup cd w
desired. and at least with three candles, say the
committee. The mental and moral instruction
Of prisoners is insufficient and almost wholly
neglected. The chaplain told the committee
that there were many praying prisoners. but he
was unable to tell who they were He had
never held or attempted to hold any religious
services, other than chapel services for one hour
each Sunday. 1t is claimed by the officers
that the Sunday school was abandoned for san
Rtary effects but such school could be held BY
men in charge. assisted By religious and beuevo
lent men in Jeffersonvile. 1t was said by the
chaplain that to instruct the prisoners a.
he is required by law to do, is tot
erduous a task, but the committee is of tn,
opinion that ne ought to be required. and cal
we'll afford to devote an hour each evening in s,
instructing the prisoners as many of them ar,
DESTROYS to have more religious and menta
teaching. In the fund derived from visitors
admission fees which should have been, unde
the rule of the prison. applied to the purchase o
books for the library. the committee fount
$l, ALB 81 and but $l42 accounted for coecte
during Inc past year. no register is kept Q
visitors, and no entries are made in any book G
the receipts of money from them. Tickets ar
sold to visitors; these are taken up by the guar
at the door and placed in box, the key TO whic
is accessible to any person in the Office Fror
time to time the clerk credits an amour
TO said fund.- according to the number Of ticket
he takes from the box
The supplies for the prison purchased i
small quantities, from time to time, as the need
demand, and they are sometimes ordered orall
by the warden and sometimes by the store keep
err OF these supplies no written statements ar